Abe Lance Furlow

Former Durango resident Abe Lance Furlow died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at his home in Lamesa, Texas. He was 97.

Known as Lance, he was born to Abe and Betty Furlow on Sept. 19, 1915, in Alto, Texas. He was one of five children. His family moved to Dawson County from East Texas, arriving on Mr. Furlow’s ninth birthday. He started school at McCarty and then graduated from Lamesa High School in 1934.

After his graduation, his family moved to Littlefield, Texas, where he met Amelia Rietman. “Her stunning good looks and kind heart won him over,” his family wrote, “and they married on Dec. 6, 1936. Their honeymoon lasted 69 years.”

The couple eloped to Clovis, N.M., to get married.

As a young man, Mr. Furlow took up baseball and softball and was still the family pitcher in his 80s.

In 1959, the Furlows moved to Durango. Mr. Furlow worked at Telluride Welding Co., until his retirement, when he worked for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

He was active in the First United Methodist Church, the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 507 and a local dance group.

The Furlow family enjoyed fly fishing, trap shooting, hunting, golfing and many family picnics.

The Furlows returned to Lamesa in 1986, where he resumed farming. At this time, he renewed his childhood love of rattlesnake hunting and fishing.

“He and Amelia patrolled the Borden County roads,” his family said, “and Lance was proud to be able to finish a snake with one shot to the head.”

Mr. Furlow was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Amelia Furlow.

He is survived by his daughters Brenda Isgar of Durango, Marilyn Staggs of Ackerly, Texas, Sheila Hensley of Camp Verde, Ariz., and Barbara Jasper of Austin, Texas; sons Steve Furlow of Brownfield, Texas, and Mark Furlow of Lamesa; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

A funeral will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Second Baptist Church of Lamesa. Jim Wright and Daniel Armstrong will officiate. A private burial will be held afterward in Lamesa Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123, or to the charity of one’s choice.